Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ, USA
Date: April 2003
Equipment: Nikon N90S, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), sb28, tripod
Film: Fujichrome Sensia 100
Exposure: aperture priority matrix metered, fill flash @ -1.7
Scan: Minolta Dimage, 100% of frame

Commentary: Northern Cardinals are very popular with most people and most photographers, probably because they are brightly colored, common yard birds in most of the country, and about as well known as any other bird. For me, they are a bit too flashy, and a bit too over photographed, so I've not gone out of my way to add any to my files. But while I was waiting for a Black Phoebe to come into photo range, this male cardinal unexpected landed right on this rock at my feet. I got off a quick frame before it departed.

Yes, I'd like to have the tip of the tail in the frame, and a little lower viewing angle, but I'm still happy to finally have a decent shot of this popular species in my files.